By Peter Omopo
The Ondo State Government has dismissed allegations by cocoa farmers in Odigbo Local Government Area that it is colluding with a private company to forcibly take over their farmlands in the Oluwa Forest Reserve.
Hundreds of farmers staged a protest on Sunday, accusing the state government and SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited of destroying their plantations and threatening their livelihoods. The protesters alleged that the encroachment was orchestrated by the former CEO of SAO Agro-Allied and current Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, in collaboration with government officials.
However, in a statement issued Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, refuted the claims, describing them as “malicious” and “unfounded.”
“It is important to clarify that Mr. Ayo Sotinrin is currently the Managing Director of a Federal Government institution and has no involvement in land acquisition by SAO Agro-Allied,” the statement read. “Allegations linking him to land grabbing are a clear attempt at character assassination.”
Adeniyan explained that SAO Agro-Allied Services has been operating in the state under a Public-Private Partnership agreement approved in 2021 and has complied with all legal and environmental guidelines.
The statement also accused some of the protesting farmers of violating land use agreements. “Many of the aggrieved farmers have exceeded their allocated boundaries and encroached on restricted forest zones, posing both environmental and security risks,” Adeniyan noted.
The government insisted that all actions related to land use in the forest reserve were in line with legal advice, verified land surveys, and formal documentation. It denied flouting court orders, stating that all ongoing litigations were being handled appropriately.
The statement further exonerated the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, Rotimi Akinsola, from the allegations, describing them as “politically motivated and contrary to the facts.” It said Akinsola’s role is limited to overseeing strategic agricultural partnerships aimed at boosting investment and job creation in the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, according to the statement, remains committed to dialogue and protecting the interests of all stakeholders.
“This administration stands firmly for transparency, lawful conduct, and the growth of agriculture as a cornerstone of Ondo’s economy,” it concluded.
